What to drink with rougail

? Le Rougail is a typical island dish from which it takes its name. It is of Indian origin and is said to come from the Tamil language, spoken on the islands of Mauritius and Reunion.

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Which rougail recipe goes with which wine?

? There are many different recipes, including tomato rougail, sausage rougail and cod rougail. Even if they come from a different recipe, they all have the same base of fruit and vegetables. Then onions, chillies and sometimes ginger are added.

If we focus on the best-known recipe, it is the sausage rougail. Traditional Reunionese dish. It consists of pork or chicken. The latter is often smoked, to which is added the rougail base, i.e. tomatoes, chopped onions and chili pepper. The dish is quite strong and is usually accompanied by rice.

To accompany this dish, you need to understand its texture. It will be powerful, spicy and quite heavy on the palate. The meats will give a lot of flavor, and the rice will bring a pasty texture. You'll need an opulent wine with enough texture to balance the power of the dish without making it heavier than it already is.

 

Your wine merchant recommends it!

We opt for wines from the Rhône or Languedoc-Roussillon regions. But be careful not to choose too powerful appellations with too much barrel ageing. Opt for wines with softer tannins, but just as powerful on the palate. Syrah is a grape variety that gives off notes of pepper and black fruit, which go very well with it.

- Wines from Saint-Joseph or even Cornas will go perfectly with the rougail. 

- Still in the Rhône Valley, but a little further south this time, stop off at Vacqueyras, which offers wines in the style of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but with a little more roundness. Notes of candied fruit and sunshine are a perfect match for rougail.

- If you're not a fan of Rhône wines, you can always choose wines from Languedoc-Roussillon. A Tautavel slightly aged in barrique will be very interesting. Its powerful notes of garrigue and spices will go perfectly with the dish.

- And if you have a craving for wine from the South-West of France, it is possible to take a Cahors or a Fronton, which are powerful wines that will bring to mind certain pairings with typical sausage dishes.